James tobias



(No Model.)

J. TOBIAS.

HAT STRETGHER.

No. 249,118. Patented Nov. 1,1881.

WITNESSES i INL'INTOR ii BY 6 VIATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Phulo-Lilhogmpher. Washinghn 0,0.

PATENT FFICE.

JAMES TOBIAS, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

HAT-STR ETC H ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,118, dated November 1, 1881. Application filed March 11, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES TOBIAS, of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hat-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, taken through the line w a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an implement for turning the screws.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the stretching of hats.

The invention consists in constructing a hatstretcher of four blocks, having beveled ends,

curved outer sides, and central screw-holes, four swiveled screws fitting the said screwholes, and a central block connecting and supporting the inner ends of the screws, whereby all or any desired number of the blocks can be forced outward to stretch the whole or any desired part of the hat, as will be hereinafter fully described.

A are four blocks the ends of which are beveled and their outer sides are curved, so that when the said blocks are placed end to end they will form an oval, as shown in Fig. 1. In the center of the inner side of each of the blocks A is formed a screw-hole. B, to receive a screw, 0, the inner end of which is swiveled to a center block, D. With this construction, when the stretcher is placed within a hat and the screws 0 are turned the blocks A will be forced outward, stretching the said hat. With this construction, also, by turning all the screws 0, the hat will be stretched all around; or any desired part of the hat can be stretched by turning one, two, or three of the screws 0. Holes E are formed in the inner parts of the screws 0 to receive a rod or other suitable implement for turning the screws. If desired, two of the screws 0 can be turned at a time by using a U-shaped implement, F, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Ahat-stretcher, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of the four blocks A, having beveled ends, curved outer sides, and central screw-holes, the four swiveled screws 0, and the center block, D, as set forth.

2. In a hat-stretcher, the combination, with the four blocks A, having beveled ends, curved outer sides, and central screw-holes, of the four swiveled screws, 0, and the center block, D, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby all or any desired number of the blocks can be forced outward to stretch the whole or any desired part of the hat, as set forth.

JAMES TOBIAS.

Witnesses:

NELsoN VAN WAGNER, CHAS. H. HARDEN- 

